Charles Allen has also written "Plain Tales from the Raj", "Tales from the Dark Continent", "Tales from the South China Seas" and "Soldier Sahibs".

'Few books have so succinctly yet accessibly investigated such a lesser-known yet seminally important corner of Indian history' -- Martin Booth, Sunday Times 'Allen has excelled himself, and this highly cultured and also finely illustrated offering is a thoroughly absorbing distraction' -- Justin Wintle, Financial Times 'In the nineteenth century, a group of enthusiastic Europeans ... set about unearthing evidence in India of ancient Buddhist teachings. Their fascinating story is told by Allen in an intriguing mixture of part detective work and part evocative storytelling' -- Daily Express

Charles Allen made his reputation with his celebrated oral histories, starting with Plain Tales from the Raj, which has now sold over 250 000 copies. His most recent book was Soldier Sahibs, which the Sunday Times called 'magnificent' and the Daily Telegraph 'marvellous'.